GAME THREAD: FAU @ LaTech - February 15, 2020
What: Florida Atlantic (14-12, 6-7) @ Louisiana Tech (18-7, 9-4)
When: Saturday, February 15th, 2020 @ 3:00 PM Eastern
Where: Thomas Assembly Center
Series: The Bulldogs own a 6-2 advantage over the Owls, including win two of three last season.
TV: None
Stream: ESPN+ *Fee
Radio: FoxSports 640
Live Stats: Here
LaTech Team Site: Here
LaTech at a Glance:
Offense - 73.9 PPG, 46% FG, 35% 3PT
Defense - 62.4 PPGA, 40% FGA, 32% 3PTA
Rebounding - 37.3 RPG Bulldogs, 34.2 RPG Opponents
Notables
Winners of five of their last seven, the Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest having clinched a position in C-USA's top pod for Bonus Play.
Last time out, LaTech upended FIU in a 60-58 defensive slugfest. Guard Amorie Archibald drained a team-high 17 points, hitting double digits for the 15th time this season, and including four of his last five games. That's good to make him the second highest scorer in the team at 11.4 PPG.
Senior guard DaQuan Bracey paces the team with 12.4 PPG. Unless these two teams meet in the C-USA Tournament, this will be the last time the Owls face Bracey. The prolific guard has been a thorn in FAU's side for years.
As a team, LaTech's 62.4 opponent's PPG tops the league and places the Bulldogs 25th in the nation defensively. This allows the "Dunkin' Dawgs," as they are called in Ruston, Louisiana, the only double-digit scoring margin in C-USA (11.5).
FAU at a Glance:
Offense - 70.5 PPG, 43% FG, 32% 3PT
Defense - 68.3 PPGA, 44% FGA, 33% 3PTA
Rebounding - 36.8 RPG Owls, 35.0 RPG Opponents
Notables
Thanks to thee straight loses, including a heartbreaking 68-66 defeat to Southern Miss on Thursday, the Owls see themselves in a four-way tie for seventh place in the conference. That positioning has cemented FAU's place in the middle pod for C-USA Bonus Play.
Jailyn Ingram was the lone bright spot in Thursday's two point loss. His 21 points was a game high, while his 8 boards paced the team. His 21 points tied his season-high, set on December 22nd, 2019 when the Owls traveled to Ingram's home-state of Georgia to face Mercer.
Moreover, his 21 point showing was his first double-digit performance in three games. Before that slump, Ingram averaged 15.3 in a span of six straight double-digit scoring nights.
Grad transfer Cornelius "Scuta" Taylor still leads the team in scoring a 12.1 PPG. Ingram is not far behind at 10.9 PPG. Where Ingram is not behind in is in rebounding, where the strong forward's 4.9 RPG now tops the team.
As a team, the Owls are starting to slip offensively. Once in the upper half in the conference in shooting, FAU's lowly 42.5% FG shooting places the Owls second-to-last in the conference, tied with woeful Middle Tennessee.
As of Friday afternoon, the Owls' podmates are ODU, UAB, Marshall, and UTSA. Dusty May's Owls have gone 2-2 against those opponents this season with the wins over UTSA and Marshall, both coming at The Burrow.
Opening Line: FAU +11.5
Additional Links:
2019-2020 FAU Basketball Schedule - FAU Owl's Nest
2019-2020 FAU Basketball Season Discussion Thread - FAU Owl's Nest
#FAU's Starting Five vs. #LaTech:
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 15, 2020
G - Cornelius "Scuta" Taylor
G - Kennan Blackshear
G - Richardson Maitre
F - Jailyn Ingram
C - Aleksandar Zecevic
And we're underway from Ruston, Louisiana! #GoOwls! 👌 pic.twitter.com/0PmnWindRT
Owls are shooting a woeful 25% in the first half. With our weakened offense, paired with LaTech's stout defense, we somewhat expected this. Yet, I don't think any of us thought it would be THIS poor.
HALFTIME. #LaTech 43 - #FAU 24.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 15, 2020
Jailyn Ingram has a team-high 12 PTS & game-high 7 Rebs.
Jaylen Sebree hits this GORGEOUS euro-step to give the Owls a quick two points in transition. We'll need more of this to chip away! pic.twitter.com/GrueQ2TqzS
Jack D Whidden III said
We've had glimpses have some strong play, just haven't been able to continue that consistently. I just don't understand why we keep trying to shoot three pointers when we're 1-12 in the opening half.Posted On: Feb 15th 2020, 4:04 PM #394124
This is not the first or second time we’ve stuck shooting 3s when we are shooting less than 10%
Frustrating
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